في المشمش (fil-mišmiš) Never; used to express skepticism about something happening (lit. in the apricot season)

اشمعنى (išma3na) Why (especially, particularly)

يا سلام (ya salaam) Wow! Expression of surprise (lit. oh peace)

يا خبر أبيض | اسود (ya xabar abyaD/iswid) Expresses surprise about a piece of news; you can say just "ya xabar!" or "ya xabar abyaD" in reaction to any news; "ya xabar iswid" is used in reaction to bad news.

مالوش دعوى بـ (maluuš da3wa bi) He has nothing to do with (s.t.) or no right to interfere in it; you can tell someone "malakš da3wa biyya" to tell them to leave you alone and stop meddling in your affairs

عينه صفرا (einu Safra) His eye is yellow; used to describe someone jealous

حطّ النقط على الحروف (HaTT il-no'aT 3ala l-Horuuf) To clarify something, make everything crystal-clear and precise. For example, at the end of a talk, the lecturer could say, "Wa dilwa'ti haHoTT il-no'aT 3ala l-Horoof" -- "I'm going to explain everything and make it all clear." Lit. "to put the dots on the letters."

يفتح الله (yiftaH alla) Said between a seller and buyer, if one doesn't accept the other's price; the meaning is like "May God open (another opportunity)"

مسمار جحا (musmaar goHa) Goha's nail. An excuse or pretext to keep one's foot in the door. Goha is a popular character from folktales. The story goes that he sold his house except for one nail, with a stipulation that he could come back and do whatever he wanted with the nail whenever. So later whenever he would get annoyed with the new owner of the house, he would come back and hammer on the nail.

حين ميسرة (Hiina maysara) When things get better. This expression is fuSHa, but it's commonly used in Egypt regardless. For example, if someone lent you money, you could tell them, "haragga3lak il-filuus Hiina maysara" (I'll pay you back when things get better for me).

معزز مكرم (mo3azzaz mokarram) Content and well-taken-care-of. Usually used in the context of a son or daughter staying at home with their parents.

متكبّر على (metkabbar 3ala) Bigheaded. To say that someone is "metkabbar 3ala xal' allaah" (looks down on God's creations) or "metkabbar 3ala n-naas illi Hawaleih" (looks down on the people around him) means that the person is really full of himself and thinks he's better than everyone else.

ديله في سنانه (deilu fi sinaanu) Lit. "his tail in his teeth." Based on the idea that in "baladi" areas where people wear traditional galabeyyas, if someone gets into a fight or some trouble and ends up running away, he takes the "tail" of his galabeyya and puts it in his mouth so he doesn't trip over it as he runs off. This expression is the equivalent of "with his tail between his legs"; it describes someone running ingloriously away from a defeat. Ex. "hiribu deilhum fi sinaanhum" (They escaped with their tails between their legs).

ضرب كرسي في الكلوب (Darab kursi fel-klob) To hit the lights with a chair in order to turn them off. Based on the idea that in a "baladi" 'ahwa or place like that, when there's a fight, someone might grab a chair and use it to knock out the lights so they can do whatever they want in the darkness, without being seen. So this expression describes someone who's trying to do bad things under the cover of darkness (figurative or literal).

اذا عرف السبب، بطل العجب (iza 3eref is-sabab, baTal il-3agab) An expression meaning that once you learn the reason for something, you won't be surprised or amazed by it anymore. Used to explain curiosity or express relief that now you know why something happened.

كلام في الهوا (kalaam fel-hawa) Used to describe talk that no one will listen to. For example, if someone was complaining and complaining about the government, you could tell them, "Bititkallem fel-hawa," since the government will never listen to their complaints. Lit. "talking in the air."

قعد على قلبهم ('a3ad 3ala 'albohom) To impose on someone while staying with them. If someone has been staying at your house for a while and you're getting sick of them, you could say they're 'a3diin 3ala albak (lit. sitting on your heart.)

أم الكبائر (omm il-kabaa'ir) In Islam, it means the biggest sin you can commit. Colloquially, it's more loosely used to mean something like "the worst thing you can do."

إن الله لا يغير ما بقوم حتى يغيروا ما بأنفسهم (inna allaaha la yuġayyiru ma bi-qawmin Hatta yuġayyiru ma bi'anfusihim) This is from sura 13 (ar-ra3d) in the Qur'an. It means "God doesn't change the condition of people until they change it themselves." Used to urge people to take the initiative to change themselves, instead of waiting for some outside force.

من شوشته لحد أخمص رجله (min šuusitu li-Hadde axmoS riglu) From the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

اليد في الميّة مش زي اليد في النار. (il-iid fil-mayya miš zayy il-iid fin-naar.) The hand in water isn’t like the hand in fire. (Easier said than done; used to criticize someone removed from the situation at hand who is telling those involved how to deal with it.)

باب النجّار مخلع. (baab in-naggaar maxalla3.) The carpenter’s door is falling apart. (Used to criticize someone who tells other people how to do things but doesn’t apply his advice to himself.)

الشاطرة تغذل برجل الحمار. (iš-šaTra tiġzil bi-rigl il-Homar.) The clever one spins with a donkey’s leg (i.e. can make something out of nothing). (Used to criticize someone who blames their tools for their bad work.)

اللى ماعندوهوش مايلزمهوش. (illi ma3anduhuuš mayilzimhuuš.) He who doesn't have (the money to pay for something) does not need it. (If you can't afford something, think twice about whether you really need it or not.)

بعد ما شاب ودوه الكتّاب. (ba3d ma šaab wadduuh ik-kuttaab) After his hair went white, he went to school. (You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Used to criticize someone old trying to do things more suited to young people.)

عريان الطوق بينط لفوق. (3iryaan iT-Too' binuTT li-foo') Someone without (even) a collar tries to jump up (i.e. to a higher social class). (Used to criticize someone poor trying to reach up too high above his social status.)

احنا في الهوا سوا. (eHna fil hawa sawa.) We are in the same boat (lit. same air).

العروسة للعريس والجري للمتاعيس. (il-3aruusa lil-3ariis wel gari lil-mata3iis.) The bride gets a bridegroom and the rest get miserable. (The bride and bridegroom are happy at a wedding, but the guests go home unhappily.)

اللى مكتوب عالجبين لازم تشوفه العين. (illi maktuub 3al-gibiin laazim tšuufu l-3ein.) What is written on the brow will inevitably be seen by the eye. (One will inevitably meet one’s destiny.)

تحت العمّة قرد. (taHt il-3emma 'ird.) Under the sheikh’s hat is a monkey. (Used to criticize someone who tries to appear good on the outside to cover up their faults, specifically if they try to appear pious.)

يا ما تحت السواهي دواهي. (yaama taHt is-sawaahi dawaahi.) Underneath the nice exterior is a bunch of problems. (Used to criticize someone who tries to put up a good appearance to cover up their faults.)

لقّيني ولا اتغدّيني. (la''iini wallitġaddini) Better a warm welcome than being invited to lunch. (Welcoming people warmly is important.)

ظرّط الإمام، خريوا المصلّين. (ZarraT il-imaam, xiryu l-muSalliin.) The imam farted, so those praying behind him shitted. (A leader's errors are compounded by his followers.) Note that this saying uses crude language, so you should be careful who you say it around.

طبّاخ السمّ بيدوقه. (Tabbaax is-simm biyduu'u.) One who cooks poison tastes it. (You have to share, so other people benefit from something you do or get.)

اللي يلاقي اللي يطبخ له لية يحرق صوابعه؟ (illi ylaa'i lli yuTbuxlu leih yiHra' Sawab3u?) Why should one who finds someone to cook for him burn his fingers? (Don't do your own dirty work if you can find someone to do it for you.)

اتغدّى بيه قبل ما يتعشّى بيك. (itġadda biih 'abl ma yit3ašša biik.) Eat him for lunch before he eats you for dinner. (Kill him before he kills you; get your blow in first.)

هاك الشبل من ذاك الأسد. (haak iš-šiblu min zaak il-asad.) Similar to the above, used to desribe someone's similarity to one of their parents. Lit. "this cub (is) from that lion."

خسارة قريبة أحسن من مكسب بعيد. (xosaara qariiba aHsan min maksab ba3iid.) A loss soon is better than a victory much later. (It's better to cut your losses and admit defeat quickly rather than stick it out and eventually win a victory that cost you a lot.)

شحات ونزهي. (šaHHaat we-nozahi.) A beggar but acting like a rich man. (Used to describe someone who's in no position to be picky but is still acting like he can set the terms of whatever bargain etc. is going on. Sort of like the equivalent of "Beggars can't be choosers," but in reverse.)

شحات وعايز رغيف. (šaHHaat we-3aayiz riġiif.) A beggar, and he wants a (whole) loaf. (If you're relying on other people's generosity, you should just be grateful for whatever you can get instead of complaining you didn't get more.)

حجة البليد مسح التختة. (Hegget el-baliid masiH et-taxta.) The bad student's excuse is erasing the blackboard. (Used to describe people who are trying to divert attention from their own failings by talking about other things.)

مصائب قوم عند قوم فوائده. (maSaa'ib qawm 3and qawm fawaa'ido.) Some people's disasters provide benefits for other people. (What is disastrous for some people can prove to be advantageous for other people.)

الجيات أحسن من الرايحات. (ig-gayyaat aHsan min ir-rayHHaat.) What is coming is better than what is gone. (The future is better than what's past; used to cheer people up.)

لو حرف شعبطة في الجو. (law Harf ša3abaTa feg-gaww.) "If" is like trying to hold onto the air (i.e. something impossible). (The equivalent of "If wishes were horses"; if someone is talking about what they'd do if they were a millionaire, or something else impossible, you can tell them "law Harf ša3abaTa feg-gaww" to remind them that just wishing for things is pointless.)

عمر الشقي بقي. (3omr iš-ša'i ba'i.) The wicked or naughty live longer. (Can be used to hint that if you take risks, it'll pay off. Can also be used in a joking way; for example, if a friend was in a minor car accident and was uninjured, you could tell them, "3omr iš-ša'i ba'i.")

وقع في شر أعماله. (wi'i3 fi šarr a3maalu.) He got entangled in the evil of his own doings. (He was hoisted by his own petard -- fell into his own trap, was harmed by his own plan to harm someone else.)

Welcome; hello: أهلا وسهلا (ahlan wa sahlan) Response: أهلا بيك (ahlan bīk) You can say أهلا وسهلا when welcoming someone (ex. to your country or home). And you can also say it to mean just "hello."

Welcome; hello: مرحبا (marHaban) Response: مرحبا بيك (marHaban bīk) مرحبا can be used in much the same way as أهلا وسهلا, and it has a more colloquial pronunciation of "marHaba." One colloquial response is مرحبتين (marHabtein - lit. two welcomes). مرحبا is not really used in Egypt outside of tourist signs and so forth, but in other places like the Gulf and Levant, it's used frequently to say hello.

Hello: السلام عليكم (as-salāmu 3aleikum) - lit. Peace be upon you Response: وعليكم السلام (w3aleikum as-salām) A common greeting used by Muslims. You can also add ورحمة الله وبركاته (waraHmatu llāhi wabarakātu - and God's mercy and blessings) to the end.

Good morning: صباح الخير (SabāH al-xeir) Response: صباح النور (SabāH an-nūr) There are more colloquial variants on صباح الخير/النور that you can use, like صباح القشطة (SabāH il-'išTa - lit. morning of cream), صباح الفل (SabāH il-full - lit. morning of jasmine), and صباح الورد (SabāH il-ward - lit. morning of rose). They're a little "baladi" (i.e. used more by the rural and lower classes), but you can still use them to add some color to your speech.

How are you?: كيف حالك؟ (keif Hālak) Response: بخير الحمد لله (bexeir al-Humdulillāh) كيف حالك can be said in a colloquial context too, but in Egypt it's much more common to hear ازيك (izzayyak). Colloquially people don't really say "bexeir" too much; you can say كويس الحمد لله (kwayyis al-Humdulillāh) or just "al-Humdulillāh."

How are things going?: ايه أخبار؟ (eih axbār); أخبارك ايه؟ (axbārak eih); عامل/ة ايه؟ (3amil/3amla eih) These expressions are kind of like "What's up?" as it's used in the U.S.; you don't really proceed to explain what's going on in your life (and don't say مافيش أخبار, mafīš axbār, "No news" like I did once; people will laugh at you!). People usually just say something like "al-Humdulillāh" or كويس (kwayyis, "Good") or كلو تمام (kullu tamām, "Everything's fine").

Goodbye: مع السلامة (ma3a s-salāma) - said to the person leaving; lit. Go in peace Response: الله يسلمك (allāh ysallimak) - said by the person leaving; lit. May God protect you Often when people are leaving they just say "Salām" or "As-salāmu 3aleikum" and those remaining say "Ma3a s-salāma."

Used to welcome s.o. arriving from a trip or greet s.o. who has just recovered from an illness: حمد لله عالسلامة (Humdilla 3as-salāma) - lit. Thank God for (your) safety Response: الله يسلمك (allāh ysallimak)

Welcome to Egypt: نوّرت مصر (nawwart maSr) - lit. You have lit up Egypt Response: ده نورك كفاية (da nūrak kifāya), lit. Your light is enough - or مصر منوّرة بيك (maSr menawwara bīk), lit. Egypt is lit up by you You can also say "Menawwara" on its own to welcome someone anywhere.

Thank you: شكرا (šukran) or a stronger variant, A thousand thanks: ألف شكر (alf šukr) Another way to say "Thank you" is متشكر (mutašakkir), which also has a feminine variant متشكرة (mutašakkira) and plural variant متشكرين (mutašakkrīn). مرسي (mersi) is another colloquial alternative. To say "Thank you very much," you can say شكرا جزيلا (šukran gazīlan) or متشكر قوي (mutašakkir 'awi).

Used to refer to events taking place in the future: إن شاء الله (in ša' allāh) - lit. if God wills This is used a lot, anytime you talk about something taking place in the future. "See you tonight in ša' allāh." "I'll do it tomorrow in ša' allāh." "Can you finish the report by Thursday?" "In ša' allāh." And so on.

Used when you see s.o. with a new haircut: نعيما (na3īman) Response: الله ينعم عليك (allāh yin3am 3aleik)

Said by a guest to the host at the end of a meal: دايما or دايما عامر (dayman or dayman 3āmir) Response: دامت حياتك (dāmit Hayātak)

When someone sneezes: The sneezer says: الحمد لله (il-Hamdu lillāh) - lit. Praise to God Someone else: يرحمكم الله (yarHamkum llāh) - lit. May God have mercy on you (pl.) The sneezer: يرحمنا ويرحمكم ويغفر لنا ولكم (yarHamna wa-yarHamkum (wa-yaġfir lana wa-lakum)) - lit. May He have mercy on us and you (and forgive us and you) This is what Muslims in Egypt say when someone sneeezes. The ويغفر لنا ولكم part is an optional addition that some people say.

"Very gladly" responses to requests: بكل سرور (bikull sirūr) - lit. with all pleasure على العين والراس (3ala l-3ein wir-rās) - lit. on the eye and head من عيني دي وعيني دي (min 3eini di w3eini di) - lit. from this eye and this eye The last two are pretty "baladi," but still good to know.

I wish the same for you: عقبالك o'bālak) Response: no set response, but you could say الله يخليك (allāh yxallīk) - God keep you. Can be used when someone congratulates you on any happy occassion (a wedding, new baby, promotion, etc.) to wish them the same good fortune. However, you would want to be tactful when using it; for example, if you'd just had a baby and a friend who couldn't have children congratulated you, it would be better not to say "3o'bālak" to her.

Be strong: شدّ حيلك (šidd Hailak) Response: الشدة على الله (iš-šidda 3ala-llah) This expression can be used as a condolence, or anytime someone is about to face a challenging event, like a test or job interview.